[narayans80]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

The condition of Vikravandi - Sethiyathope is best explained in the following video. As per the Youtuber the construction has come to a halt in this section.

Whats so shocking boss. Vikravandi-Kumbakonam has been in this sorry state since we were children, now our children are older than what we were back then and nothing's changed

I think soon we might consider Samayapuram-Kallagam-Jayamkondam-Chidambaram or a 4-laned ECR (which is yet to start) before Vikravandi-Kumbakonam 4-laning is complete.

I hope you are aware of the newly 4-laned Samayapuram-Kallagam section (some pictures were in PrasannaDhana's Altroz thread), which is now faster if you want to visit places alongside Kollidam like Anbil or Thiruvayaru. Thiruvaiyaru also benifits from the Perambalur-Ariyalur 2-lane

[Yieldway17]

Latest update I saw on skyscrapercity forum is that Vikravandi-Sethiyathope work is finally back on. I wouldn't be surprised if the Villupuram-Nagapattinam highway gets completed first though going by the brisk pace the work is going on.

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

The condition of Vikravandi - Sethiyathope is best explained in the following video. As per the Youtuber the construction has come to a halt in this section.


https://Youtu.be/irOe7oJqMDs

Looks like Vanthiyadevan (Ponniyin Selvan) had it better a 1000 years ago than this road . I've been doing the Chennai - Kumbakonam stretch very frequently in the last 2 months: almost 4 times, never will I ever take Vikravandi route, I've done this max three times before and regretted it very much. I always take the GST and take left at the TNEB Grid to Mangalampettai and to Kumbakonam. Even this route has so many speed breakers and very bad stretch near Vridhachallam. You can't keep track of the hundreds of speed breakers that one has to encounter along the way. Not to mention the two wheelers in Kumbakonam town are a 'suicidal' bunch.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Looks like Vanthiyadevan (Ponniyin Selvan) had it better a 1000 years ago than this road . I've been doing the Chennai - Kumbakonam stretch very frequently in the last 2 months: almost 4 times, never will I ever take Vikravandi route, I've done this max three times before and regretted it very much. I always take the GST and take left at the TNEB Grid to Mangalampettai and to Kumbakonam. Even this route has so many speed breakers and very bad stretch near Vridhachallam. You can't keep track of the hundreds of speed breakers that one has to encounter along the way. Not to mention the two wheelers in Kumbakonam town are a 'suicidal' bunch.

Am not sure if you take the T.Palur route. I would prefer a slight detour to save from the speed breaker every minute section between Jayamkondam and Devancheri. Go via Anaikarai, Gangaikondacholapuram and then back to Jayamkondam. Much faster and peaceful as well without the speed breaker a minute pain

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Am not sure if you take the T.Palur route. I would prefer a slight detour to save from the speed breaker every minute section between Jayamkondam and Devancheri. Go via Anaikarai, Gangaikondacholapuram and then back to Jayamkondam. Much faster and peaceful as well without the speed breaker a minute pain

I'll try it next time I go thank you! Can share the route on google maps here, please?

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

I'll try it next time I go thank you! Can share the route on google maps here, please?

https://goo.gl/maps/AMz65JCbKLH6fFB68 this is the route, much more peaceful than the T Palur route

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

https://goo.gl/maps/AMz65JCbKLH6fFB68 this is the route, much more peaceful than the T Palur route

Many thanks for the prompt response !

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Many thanks for the prompt response !

There is a lot of construction around the old 45C (4-laning). So I am not sure if you can save on time. Once the new bridge on Kollidam comes up on the 45C I am sure it would be much more hassle free all the way to Kumbakonam.

[CArspeed]

Originally Posted by ampere

There is a lot of construction around the old 45C (4-laning). So I am not sure if you can save on time. Once the new bridge on Kollidam comes up on the 45C I am sure it would be much more hassle free all the way to Kumbakonam.

Did take this route 3 months back all the way from Kumbakonam to relive the past memories of travelling in this sections some two decades back, but could not continue beyond Sethiathope. However, gathered courage and continued till Panruti before taking a left towards Arasur to join the NH 45. Horrible roads is what I would describe on this route. In most sections you will have to travel on the old route as the newly laid route is not accessible.
In my opinion, it will take another 18-24 months for this route to be usable. But as you rightly said this route will be a boon to travel to east coast to places such as Kumbakonam, Mayavaram, Thiruvarur, Mannargudi etc…

[mah45]

Hi
Did a short trip to Swamimalai and back over the weekend.

While going, took the Jayamkondam -> G.cholapuram -> Anaikarai route to reach Kumbakonam.
Lots of diversions in the Anaikarai stretch especially after crossing Anaikarai, but roads were still wide and relatively free.
Almost no waiting to cross both bridges in Anaikarai.

While returning we started directly from Swamimalai, and once I joined the By-pass road, switched on GMaps to Anaikarai.
For some reason it routed me through the Neelathanallur road.
After driving for 2-3 Kms, I realised it was a different route, but there was a milestone for Jayamkondam, so continued on that road all the way to Jayamkondam.
It went through T. Palur.

The road condition was good, but lots of speed breakers, and the road itself was very narrow compared to the Anaikarai route.

Joined back the Trichy - Chennai highway through the famous Transformer junction.
Due to the odd hours that we travelled this time, had to take multiple stops, and journey time was 6.5 hours one way.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by ampere

There is a lot of construction around the old 45C (4-laning). So I am not sure if you can save on time. Once the new bridge on Kollidam comes up on the 45C I am sure it would be much more hassle free all the way to Kumbakonam.

The stretch between Kumbakonam and the turn off for Gangaikondacholapuram is decent though there are diversions. It is not as bad as the rest of the 45 C stretch. It certainly less stressful to drive than the T.Palur route to reach Jayamkondam. Took me about 1 hour in all with leisured driving to reach Jayamkondam.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

The stretch between Kumbakonam and the turn off for Gangaikondacholapuram is decent though there are diversions. It is not as bad as the rest of the 45 C stretch. It certainly less stressful to drive than the T.Palur route to reach Jayamkondam. Took me about 1 hour in all with leisured driving to reach Jayamkondam.

Very true. The only unknown is the Anaikarai. For now it some how works even with Buses plying through it.

I hope the new bridges comes up soon. Also like mentioned earlier, the Meensuruty-Jayamkondam section and beyond is getting updated big time. Including a bypass for Jayamkondam. This should make it an awesome route to Trichy.

[anbaras]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Looks like Vanthiyadevan (Ponniyin Selvan) had it better a 1000 years ago than this road . I've been doing the Chennai - Kumbakonam stretch very frequently in the last 2 months: almost 4 times, never will I ever take Vikravandi route, I've done this max three times before and regretted it very much. I always take the GST and take left at the TNEB Grid to Mangalampettai and to Kumbakonam. Even this route has so many speed breakers and very bad stretch near Vridhachallam. You can't keep track of the hundreds of speed breakers that one has to encounter along the way. Not to mention the two wheelers in Kumbakonam town are a 'suicidal' bunch.

You don't have to take left at TNEB Grid now. The approach roads have been laid on the Ulundurpet- Virudachalam road, after the Ulundurpet Toll.

From Jaymkondam to kumbakonam, I always check with the Google maps, as some times sugarcane laden tractors cause huge pile up of Vehicles near Anaikkarai.

And If the Sand Quarries are in operation near Madanathur, Sand laden lorries will pose a problem in the Neelathanallur Route apart from the usual Speed breakers.

[mah45]

Just wanted to also update on the food options during this trip since usually we start early morning, but this time happened to travel around lunch time.

While going we stopped at Manoj Bhavan at Mamandur for lunch.
Although there wasn't that much crowd, the experience wasn't very pleasant this time, both food wise and the attitude.
In the past we always used to stop here for Breakfast and found it to be good. But had a not so pleasant experience this time. Need to find other options next time.

While returning we saw boards of A2B with branches mentioned at 4 different places starting from Ulundurpet all the way to Tindivanam.
Since we were early, we decided to go until Tindivanam A2B, but as we were approaching it, found Harihara Bhavan as a new option and stopped there.
Found the lunch there to be pretty good.

Once you leave the Chennai - Trichy highway, I am finding it very difficult to get good options for food until we reach Kumbakonam.
We end up having short Tea breaks instead.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by mah45

Once you leave the Chennai - Trichy highway, I am finding it very difficult to get good options for food until we reach Kumbakonam.
We end up having short Tea breaks instead.

This is true. You need to plan your break prior to exiting the GST. Also its not that long from the exit. A couple of hours at most.

Another part I noticed is along the entire GST no matter what hotel you see, they seem to be crowded at least till Tindivanam. Only driving on early hours can help solve this problem.

Also the 4-lane seems too less of a space for this extremely traffic heavy section. Govt should have planned a 6-lane for this section. Having driven on the 6-lanes of Bangalore-Bombay or BLR-Chennai, the lack of additional lane is really felt. And this section is not like Salem-Madurai-Kanyakumari where traffic is sparse and a 4-lane seems enough.